2006 Honda Civic Reliability
The 2006 Honda Civic has 1,463 owner complaints and 17 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and engine. Compared with nearby Civic model years (2004–2008), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Civic's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,463
NHTSA owner complaints
17
Recall campaigns
82
Complaints citing a crash
21
Complaints citing a fire
2006 Honda Civic complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 model year, filed between 2005 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility / wipers | 240 | 16% |
| Engine | 233 | 16% |
| Suspension | 205 | 14% |
| Air bags | 189 | 13% |
| Engine & cooling | 157 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 121 | 8% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 89 | 6% |
| Body structure | 79 | 5% |
2006 Honda Civic recalls
17 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2006 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05V509000 | Nov 3, 2005 | Speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal | Certain passenger vehicles, the pedal were not properly installed and may come loose at the floor mounting. |
| 05V572000 | Dec 27, 2005 | Air bags — frontal | On certain 2-door passenger vehicles, the front passenger occupant detection system (ods) contains a faulty electronic component. As a result, the ods will not function properly and will not suppress front passenger air bag deployment when the weight of an… |
| 06E023000 | Mar 13, 2006 | Exterior lighting — headlights | Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps,… |
| 06E064000 | Jul 17, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108,… |
| 06V270000 | Jul 26, 2006 | Equipment — other / owners/service/other manual | On certain passenger vehicles and motorcycles, the owner's manuals contain incorrect contact information for the national highway traffic safety administration's (NHTSA) vehicle safety hotline. |
| 06V326000 | Aug 31, 2006 | Visibility / wipers — glass, side/rear | On certain 2-door passenger vehicles, the rear windshield or rear quarter glass panels do not properly adhere to the body of the car due to improper window opening preparation. |
| 07V034000 | Feb 8, 2007 | Engine & cooling — engine | On certain passenger vehicles, certain parts of the integrated motor assist (ima) system are located under a metal cover behind the rear seat-back. Over time the weight of rear seat passengers may cause the metal cover to come into contact with a rubber cap… |
| 07V399000 | Sep 5, 2007 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / wheel speed… | On certain vehicles, the wheel speed sensor housing uses an o-ring seal to prevent leakage to or from the wheel bearing. If assembled improperly, the o-ring may not seal properly allowing water to enter the wheel bearing and eventually cause damage to the… |
| 07V402000 | Sep 5, 2007 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | On certain sedan and hybrid (cng) vehicles, during assembly, the telescopic steering column mechanism may have been over-lubricated with silicone grease. Over time, some of this extra grease may drip on the brake light switch causing the switch to fail. |
| 07V512000 | Nov 1, 2007 | Fuel system — storage / tank assembly | On certain compressed natural gas (cng) vehicles, in the event of a severe interior fire in the area of the rear seat, the cng tank may be heated unevenly, preventing the pressure relief device from venting the contents of the tank as designed. |
| 11V106000 | Mar 2, 2011 | Electrical system | Honda is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Honda Civic hybrid vehicles. There is a potential for the voltage converter that relays power from the integrated motor assist (ima) system to the vehicle's electrical components to fail. |
| 16V346000 | May 24, 2016 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity… |
| 17V030000 | Jan 10, 2017 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V,… |
| 17V545000 | Aug 31, 2017 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air… |
| 18V268000 | Apr 26, 2018 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012… |
| 19V378000 | May 16, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V,… |
| 19V502000 | Jun 27, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011… |
How the 2006 compares with nearby Civic years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Civic analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 385 | 15 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2005 | 364 | 15 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2006 (this page) | 1,463 | 17 | Visibility / wipers | Avoid |
| 2007 | 1,276 | 10 | Suspension | Avoid |
| 2008 | 987 | 7 | Air bags | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2006 Honda Civic
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 17 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2006 Honda Civic can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2006 Honda Civic reliability FAQ
Is the 2006 Honda Civic reliable?
The 2006 Honda Civic has 1,463 owner complaints and 17 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and engine. Compared with nearby Civic model years (2004–2008), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Civic's typical year.
What are the most common 2006 Honda Civic problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Honda Civic are visibility / wipers (240), engine (233), suspension (205), air bags (189). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2006 Honda Civic have recalls?
NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns for the 2006 Honda Civic, including 05V509000 (speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal) and 05V572000 (air bags — frontal). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2006 Honda Civic compare with the 2005 and 2007 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2005 has 364 complaints and 15 recalls (caution); the 2007 has 1,276 complaints and 10 recalls (avoid). The 2006 has 1,463 complaints and 17 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2006 Honda Civic?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Honda Civic research
Other Honda Civic model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2006 Civic, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.